I have not left the blog world, just been absent. Still don't have Internet in my new apartment, and Big Brother at work has been making threats, so I am limited in my access. A lot has been percolating, but first I wanted to follow through on my promised tribute to

Aw shucks, I am blushing. My biggest blog crush, Coaster Punchman, has included me in his Thinking Blogger Award list. So now it is my turn to shout out to those I love to read partially because they feed my inferiority complex about my own intelligence.

John, Beyond the SelfMakes me think about: Social justice and radical activismI admire him because: He has no fearI feel inferior because: I have fearYou might like to know that: He is one of the funniest damn people ever, and one of the nicest, even though he looks like he might snap and attack at any moment

Jersey Aikido Girl, ...there's no place like the Turnpike (formerly known as KY Transplant)Makes me think about: My childhood, being a nerd, weird people, lots of stuffI admire her because: She is left-brained AND right-brainedI feel inferior because: She is left-brained AND right-brainedYou might like to know that: We shared a house in college, and she was the one who mowed the lawn and got after us to pick up stuff off the floor. Could take you down with one of her hugs, even before she learned how to flip you over her head

Cantankerous Consumer, Not Made In China: A One Year Self Imposed BoycottMakes me think about: The impact of the choices we make, even the ones that seem littleI admire her because: She is uncompromising in her beliefsI feel inferior because: Sometimes I compromise when I know I shouldn'tYou might like to know that: She is my BFF, and along with JAG, recently returned to the East Coast! Woo hoo! At the lowest points in my life she appears with sushi and daquiris and it all gets a little easier

Megan, By & ByMakes me think about: History, Politics, TeachingI admire her because: I've always considered myself a closet History teacherI feel inferior to her because: She can argue so eloquently about politicsYou might like to know that: She is the only person on this list with whom I do not have an outside-the-blogworld relationship

AnthemSled, The Mad LensMakes me think about: Language, its delightfulness and powerI admire him because: His mind works so quickly and bends in ways I haven't consideredI feel inferior to him because: His mind works so quicklyYou might like to know that: He is the dreamiest boy ever

OK smarties, here are the rules:1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ and a link to the post that you wrote.

(I will be following up with a post on Bloggers Who Make Me Laugh because Jessica Rabbit did have a very good point.)